What can those with whom I struggle teach me about love?

Thich Nhat Hanh says that love is about understanding. It seems helpful and wise to keep returning to my own inner truth, experience, self care and self compassion – learning and practicing to ground in my own being, thoughts, feelings and needs in relation to others. Without doing that first and along the way, things tend to go askew. Then there is the reaching across, listening, hearing, engaging, understanding. I do hope to keep learning and improving. It seems like hard work so far!

I often feel irritation towards some people, usually the same people over character traits that I don’t like. It is a real struggle to not have negative thoughts and emotions about these individuals. This question is a reminder that we all have the same Creator and I am no one to question or judge these people. I have to accept them and when things start to impact me very badly, to walk away. I loved what someone wrote below about sending positive messages and energy to them from within.

It is more going in than out, that the ones getting in, makes sense to love more those that are outside the struggle. It always would complicate the lives that we, sometimes, are not familiar having. That also would prove how evolution is sometimes intentional. Peace be with us.

it’s about breaking free of my own barriers, the famous crack that allows the light of vulnerability to shine inside. love is so much about daring to be vulnerable. so much more so when there is difficulty and struggle with the other involved. I think it’s a bit heroic in that sense…

Those people and related situations that I struggle with can teach me to remember to see them as a fellow human traveler. That just like me they have their struggles. Doing this opens up the door to remembering we are all in this world together.

That silence is sometimes the best response…that sometimes the best way I can engage them is within the quiet of my heart, through prayer, through energy work,
through blessing them, and recognizing limits. That love is about limits, my own and others, as it is about anything else.

Self! It’s easy to reflect or project others about feelings or sensation of love. It’s hard to love (seriously, deeply!!!) self.
When you hurt, it’s the lesson of love. how can you love yourself even tho its hurt!

"If you spot it, you got it." So goes a saying Grace has been whispering more and more often. Because . . . I'm in a life situation where I have no other obvious choice but to live with FAMILY! My elderly dad, my brother-in-law, and on and on it goes. But some of the most irritating qualities in those around me, on reflection, are common to my own characteristics. Either in the past or in another context. First, I pause and try to see something about the person NOW for which I am grateful....

“If you spot it, you got it.” So goes a saying Grace has been whispering more and more often. Because . . . I’m in a life situation where I have no other obvious choice but to live with FAMILY! My elderly dad, my brother-in-law, and on and on it goes. But some of the most irritating qualities in those around me, on reflection, are common to my own characteristics. Either in the past or in another context. First, I pause and try to see something about the person NOW for which I am grateful. Once I’ve done that, my teeny tiny perspective broadens enough for me to see past my justification for my own behavior, and recognize myself in the other person. It’s a long, slow road, but it eases a lot of the ruts of resentment I too often travel.

Dear Dawn Elaine, sending love and patience to you and your family. Good luck, I know it is not easy, having been in something similar a bit ago. Remember nothing lasts forever!
Peace and love to you. ❤️🙏

Being aware of and honest about how I am feeling about the person I am struggling with and asking God to help me see beyond the material appearance to the beloved child of God he/she is, as we all are. Blessings and love to The Gratefulness Team and all who visit here. 🕊 💕

That "Love" does not require "Like."
That I can -- must -- love my "neighbor" even though I don't much "like" them.
Loving (respecting as a fellow human being; a fellow child of God) a person that I don't find especially likable allows me to interact with, perhaps live next door to, or to work with, such a person without burdening myself with negative feelings that sap my patience and energy wastefully. It's also just possible that my good example may give such a person cause to question their...

That “Love” does not require “Like.”
That I can — must — love my “neighbor” even though I don’t much “like” them.
Loving (respecting as a fellow human being; a fellow child of God) a person that I don’t find especially likable allows me to interact with, perhaps live next door to, or to work with, such a person without burdening myself with negative feelings that sap my patience and energy wastefully. It’s also just possible that my good example may give such a person cause to question their own behaviors, allowing them to become more likable…